a lesson on gay street

In May 2017, while roaming around New York City's Greenwich Village, I stumbled upon a unique street, Gay Street. It’s one of a handful of one-block-long streets in Manhattan. With a bend at its northern end, you can never really see the street in its entirety.  The three- and four-story Federal and Greek Revival-style houses which line much of its length give Gay Street a remarkably intimate feel. 

Along this street, chained to a street sign was a cross of many colors. It was in close proximity to the Stonewall Inn, where in 1969 where patrons of a popular New York City gay bar stood up to police raids and spurred protests that would become the start of the modern LGBTQ movement. Back then, I thought a creative person had made this cross and put it there as a feel good message, not knowing that each color had significance and this was a precursor to Pride Month.

This is the last day of Pride Month which honors the identity, rights and inclusion of LGBTQ people in our nation, celebrating their place in American history and future. As the month’s name implies, it’s a time of pride, affirmation and celebration for who you are, as well as political advocacy to further inclusivity. Growing up, I knew that there were girls who liked girls and guys who liked guys. I didn't give it a whole lot of thought.

Google recognized Pride Month

What brought me to understand the struggles of same sex couples are two of my nieces. Each were in a relationship and were being denied the rights of heterosexual couples. When same sex marriages became legal in Ohio on June 26, 2015, Jessi and her partner Kim were married on August 1 of that year. Kate and Felicity were married in 2017. They are the ones who opened my eyes to an understanding that love comes in a rainbow of colors. 

Love is love is love...